Richard Stallman event in SLIIT

Last week was very busy week organizing Richard Stallman event @ SLIIT. I never thought we could have Colombo's main event @ SLIIT, but many thanks to Dr. Shahani and Himira for giving us the event. We had to change the dates of the event due another event @ SLIIT on 17th, but finally it look like we pulled this off quit well. It was a massive crowed. I think largest crowed ever, for a FOSS event in Sri Lanka. It was a house full event. There was about more than 800 people in the auditorium few of them standing behind.


RMS came around 11.00, and our chairman Prof. Sam Karunaratne, Dr.Faiz Marikkar, other lectures and, some lectures from other universities waiting to welcome him.


His speech was one of best speeches I ever heard, even though I couldn't here it completely. Full with humours, widoms, and inspiration. He explains about, free software and, why it is important for the better society. Then he did St. IGNUcius (from church of EMACS) show. crowed loved it. He said "I Bless your computer my child". :-). RMS gave away some stickers to the audience @ the end of the event. He also gave, five batches for the organizing committee.
I got one as well. Ven. Metthavihari and Chamath managed to clear the ubuntu CD from the custom's which Canonical had couriered. They came before RMS finishes his speech. There were about 600 cds, but there were vanished within few seconds.

After his speech seems like most of our students who didn't admire Free Software, started admiring it. Funny things happen to me as well. I lost my phone, and found it. It was on the podium under the bag of RMS. Finally Many thanks to every one who helped to organize the event.

In the evening Me, Niroshan, Nidika and Udara event to UoC for the geekout, but came early since RMS had to leave early.